It's Never Dull at the DiNozzos
A set of short vignettes about daily life at the DiNozzo house aka the "DiNozzo rules of parenting."
Chapter 1: The amount of chaos increases exponentially as the number of kids.
"Let's go," Tony called from the front door to the five kids. "School bus will be out front very soon!"
"No, Abba," Tali shook her head. Tony was about to tell her that she had to go to school, especially since today was the first day when Ziva spoke up.
"Remember the bus is not coming on our street this year; the only stop is at the corner now."
"Then we need to get moving," Tony called to the children. Tony clipped Daisy's leash to her collar as Ziva put the leash on Asher. Both dogs loved to go for walks, especially if the kids were all going as well.
"Ima, Tali has my backpack," Beth was upset.
Ziva picked up the remaining backpack by the door and read the name tag on the strap, "This one says Elizabeth DiNozzo; I think it is yours." She showed Beth the tag. 'Note to self, do not buy similar backpacks next year.' Beth took the pack and followed her siblings out the door.
Anthony stopped about half way to the corner and bent to the ground. Tony looked back and saw his oldest son behind the rest of the family. "Anthony, let's move it; you don't want to miss the bus on the first day!"
"I found a quarter, Abba." Anthony held up the coin to show his father.
LJ walked next to Ima, holding her hand. He was starting kindergarten today. "How will I know where to go Ima? What if I get lost?"
"Remember what your teacher told you? Follow the giraffes to get to the kindergarten wing and then look for the giraffe with the orange bow tie for your classroom." Ziva liked that the school had made finding classrooms easy for the children. Each grade had a different animal and color coding in the individual wings.
"Okay, Ima. What about lunch? How do I get lunch?"
"You will go to eat with your class. We have set up a lunch account for you, just as your brother and sisters have. You tell the cashier your name and they take the payment from your account."
"What if I forget?"
Ziva smiled, "Motek, if you forget your name, you have bigger troubles!"
LJ laughed and stopped asking questions.
Beth and Rivka were discussing their class assignments with Abba, "I still don't understand why we can't be in the same class." Beth had been more upset than Rivka that the twins had been put in different classes this year.
Tony squeezed his number three ninja's hand, "It'll be okay. Remember that your teacher said that the two classes will have science and reading together. Plus, you have lunch, recess and PE together as well."
"Maybe, Abba. I STILL don't like it." Beth scowled.
"Give it a chance, Beth. Please?" Tony made puppy eyes at his daughter and she laughed at him.
"Okay, Abba. I'll try!"
"That's my girl!" Tony kissed her on the top of the head.
Anthony and Tali were standing away from the rest of the family, chatting with their friends from the neighborhood. When the bus arrived, they got on with their friends, trying to ignore their parents and not show their embarrassment in front of the other older kids.
Rivka and Beth hugged both parents, petted the dogs, and climbed the steps into the bus. LJ hugged his Ima, and then his Abba. He hugged Daisy and Asher and then climbed the steps and sat in the first row, by the window and waved to both parents as the bus headed to the next stop.
"I swear it gets crazier every year," Ziva took Tony's hand in hers as they walked back to the house.
Tony squeezed her hand, "Yeah, but it's a good crazy…"